Turn-table



(ModeL) A. J. DELAVIGNB.

' Turn Table. No. 237,373. Patented Feb. 8, 1881 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALPHONSE J. DELAVIGNE, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

TURN-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 237,373, dated February 8, 1881.

Application filed April 22, 1880. (Model) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALPHoNsE JOSEPH DELAVIGNE, of New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Turn-Tables for Railway-Oars, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in certain novel details of construction and arrangement of parts, whereby provision is made for turning the table in one direction by the weight of the car and reversing it by the action of a spring.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top view of a turn-table embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sectional views at right angles to each other, Fig. 3 being taken in the line 2 z of Fig. l, and Fig. 4 being taken in the lineg yof Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section in detail through the pivotpost and inclined track around it in the line as a: of Fig. 3.

A represents a casing or chamber inclosing the working parts. B is the turn-table, which rests on a post, 0, attached to the center of the under side of the table. The post 0 rests on a spiral spring, D, which in turn rests on the ground. The post 0 and spring D work in a tube or sleeve, E, the upper portion of which is formed into a circular inclined plane or screw-thread, G. The post 0 is provided with' friction-rollers H, which work on or in said inclined plane or screw-thread. To the upper portion of the post O is attached one end of a rope, J, the other end of which is attached to a spring, K, secured to a standard or to the side of the casing or chamber A. The parts are so arranged as to allow the table B to make half a revolution.

When the car is driven on the table the weight of the car will force the table down, compressing the spring D so that the rollers H will run down the inclined plane Guntil the table has made a half-revolution and reversed the positionof the rails thereon, so as to allow the car to be reversedand run oft upona lower level, from which it maybe switched back upon the main track ready for the return trip, or upon any other connecting track. When the car leaves the table the combined action of the springs D and K forces the table upward and returns it to its former position.

When the table is intended to communicate with more than one track the parts are arranged as follows: In the wall or casing of the chamber A are recesses L. On the table Bis a lever, M, one end of which is pivoted to said table, and the other end is bent downward and protrudes through a slot, 8, in the table, and then connects at its end by an eye with the free end of a pawl-rod, M, pivoted to the under side of the table B at m, which,by its engagement with one or other of the "recesses L, serves as a means of locking the table in position to communicate with any one of the tracks connected with it. To a standard, at, on the table B is pivoted a lever, P, the short arm of which is connected with the leverM at a point between thefulcrum of the latter and a notched plate, Q, also secured to thetable. The notches L are formed in the casin gA at different heights, to correspond with the relative heights of the notches in the plate Q, so that in order to interlock the end of the rod M with any one of the notches L it is only necessary to place the lever Pinto a corresponding notch in the plate Q. The notches L are also arranged in such position in the casing that each notch will bring the track upon the table in line with one of the tracks that communicate with the table. The position of the lever in any one of the notches will thus determine which of the tracks will be placed in communication with the table. As the car moves on the platform the weight of the car turns the table, and the driver grasps the lever P and places the lever M in the proper notch of the plate Q to cause the end of said lever M to en gage with the proper recess L and arrest the car opposite the track on which he desires to drive. As the car leaves the platform the driver releases the lever P, and the action of the springs reverses the table, as before described. The table descends to lower grades as. it isrevolved, and each of the tracks that connect with the turntable is so graded as to conform to the level of the table when their tracks shall connect one with the other.

Having thus described myinvention,I claim casing or chamber A, of the recesses L, levers as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat- M and P, and notched plate Q, as shown and IQ ent described, for the purpose specified.

1. The combination of the table B, post 0, 5 springs D and K, inclined plane or screw Gr, ALPHONSE DELAVIGNE' and rollers H, as shown and described, for the Witnesses: purpose specified. JNo. O. DELAVIGNE, J r.,

2. The combination, with the table B and FRANK DELERY. 

